Louisiana governor declares state of emergency preparing for Tropical Storm Sally

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) declared a state of emergency on Saturday as the state prepares for Tropical Storm Sally.

Edwards said in a statement Saturday that Sally is expected to strengthen into a hurricane that could make land fall in Louisiana Monday morning.

“While we ultimately don’t know where Sally will make landfall, much of Southeast Louisiana is in the storm’s cone and the risk of tropical storm force or hurricane strength winds continues to increase,” Edwards said.

Tropical Storm Sally formed Saturday off Florida's coast in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Sally comes on the heels of Hurricane Laura, which slammed Louisiana as a Category 4 storm in late August, killing at least 28 people.

“Barely two weeks ago, Louisiana suffered a devastating blow when Hurricane Laura came ashore as the strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in Louisiana history, leaving a trail of destruction in its path,” Edwards said. “This, when combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, can make us all weary.”

Sally is one of several storms swirling in the Atlantic Ocean, according to NOAA. Tropical Storm Paulette is forecasted to strengthen into a hurricane and move over or near Bermuda by Monday morning.